Baling press



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BK'LING PRESS G. W. LANGFORD Filed Jan. 25. 1926 Nov. 29, 1927. I

. INVENTOR.

v ATTORNEYJ Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. LANGFORD,'OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T ECONOMY BALER COMPANY, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, A CORFORATION OF MICHIGAN.

BALING rnnss.

Application filed Ja nuary 25, 1926. Serial No. 83,702.

* The invention relates to baling presses and is particularly applicable to that type of baling press having a baling chamber with an open upper endand alsohavinga platen which is movable laterally of thebaling chamber beyond its upper end so that material may be inserted 'into the chamber through its upper end. One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved baling press in which the platen is'moved both longitudinally of the baling chamber and transversely thereof beyond its open end by means including a rotatable screw. Another object is to connect the rotatable screw to the platen and to so mount the rotatable screw that it is angularly movable during the transverse movement, of the platen relative to the baling chamber. Further objects of the invention are to provide astrong construction of'pivotal mounting for the rotatable screw so that it may move angularly;'to journal the mounting for the screw upon the frame independently of the means for driving the screw; to provide means for automatically stopping the rotation of the screw when the platen has reached the limit of .its travel in one direction; and to provide means controlled by the pressure exerted by the platen during its compressing movement to automatically stop rotation of the screw.

With these as well as other objects in view the invention resides in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as morefully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings r Figure 1 is a plan view of a baling press embodying my invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are respectively side and end elevations thereof;

Figure a is a cross section on the line kt of Figure 3; 1

Figures 5 and 6 are respectively an en- 'largedsectional side elevation and an enlarged sectional plan view .of'a portion of the driving mechanism. I In the present instance I have shown a vertical baling press having the vertical baling chamber 1 with an open upper end mounted upon the frame, including the base 2. 3 is the platenhaving the beam 4 of a' lengthto extend through the endwalls' of "the baling chamber. This platen is adapted to be raised and lowered within the balingv chamber and is also adapted to be moved laterally of the baling chamber beyond its upper end.

The beam 4 of the platen has journaled thereon near its opposite ends and beyond the side walls of the baling chamber the rollers 5 which are engageable with the guides 6 sec'ured to the frame at the opposite ends of the baling chamber. Each of these guides comprises the vertical portion 7 and the lateral and preferably upward and outwardly inclined portions 8 for respectively guiding the platen during its movement within the baling chamber and during its lateral movement beyond the open end of the baling chamber. The portion 7 of each guide is preferably formed'of cooperating sections'engageable with opposite sides of the rollers and having foot flanges secured to the end wall of the baling chamber while the portion 8 of each guide is preferably formed of cooperating flat'or strap sections eiigageable with'opposite sides of the roller. The outer ends of the straps are preferably curved into engagement with and suitably secured to each other and furthermore suitable brackets 9 may be provided upon a side wall of thebal ing chamber for assisting insupporting the portion 8 of each of the guides. I

Foractuating the platen I have provided a screw -10 at each end of the baling chamber and directly threadedly engaging a nut 11 rigidly secured to each end of the platen beam 4. Each screw in'addition to being rotatable to acuate the platen is also angularly movable to permit the lateral movement of the platen'beyond the open end of the baling chamber. In detail, the lowerend of each screwis journaled in the yoke 12 and is held from longitudinal movement in either direction relative to this yoke by" connected to each screw 10 for driving the same. This shaft preferably extends through the journal portions or pins 18 and 19 and is journaled therein and this shaft has secured thereto the bevel gears 21 for meshing with the bevel gears 14:. Anti-friction bearings 22, such as ball bearings, are preferably provided between the bevel gears 21 and the adjacent leg of the yoke 11 to function as end thrust bearings for retaining the bevel gears 21in mesh with the bevel gears 14.

To hold in place thesections forming the end walls of the baling chamber so that the djacent edges of these sections will be properly spaced for the passage of the platen beam 4 and at the same time will not spread or move away from each other during the compressing movement of the platen, I provide at each end of the baling chamber the tie member 23 which has suitable foot flanges at its ends secured to the end wall sections near their adjacent edges. This tie member has a general L shape to provide a portion24r. for the vertical passage of the roller 5 and nut 11 and a transverse portion 25 for the passage of the screw 10 while moving angularly.

For rotating the shaft 20 I secure upon one end of this shaft the worm wheel 26 and drive this worm wheel by means of the worm 27, which is secured upon the shaft- 28. This shaft has secured thereto the sprocket wheel 29 which is driven from the electric motor 30 through the sprocket chain 31v running over the sprocket wheel 32 upon the motor drive shaft.

To provide for automatically stopping rotation of the screws when a predetermined density of material in the baling chamber has been reached or when predetermined pressure has been exerted by the platen during its compressing movement, the worm shaft 28 is mounted so that it is. normally held in a predetermined position but may move longitudinally to a slight extent when a predetermined resistance to rotation is exerted by the worm wheel 26 upon the worm 27, it being understood that the resistance exerted by the worm wheel is dependent upon the resistance exerted by the'material being pressed to the platen. As specifically shown, the worm shaft is mounted in the upper portion of the housing 33 which encloses the worm and worm wheel and is mounted upon the frame base 2. The end of'the worm shaft opposite the driving end is preferably mounted in the anti-friction thrust'bearing 34 which has a reduced end extending through the housing cap 35 and engageablewith the dog 36 pivoted upon the cap. The-free end of this dog is engageable with the lever 37 which is pivoted at one end upon the cap and has loosely connected thereto near its other end the rod 38 which passes through an extension 39 upon the the worm shaft has been moved longitudi nally a sufficient distance. I

For the purpose of stopping rotation of the screws when rotating-to move the platen upwardly and laterally outwardly'to expose the open upper end of the baling chamber,

I have provided suitable means for breaking the circuit to the electric motor." This means comprises the electric switch 45 of the same type as the switch 4A and havingthe pivotal arm 46 provided with the roller at? which is positioned to be engaged by a movable member, such as the roller 5 upon the platen,

which roller engages the roller upon the arm and swings the latter to break the circuit to the electric motor. 7 The switch a5 is located inwardly from the end of the lateral portion 8 toallow for slight travel of the platen after the circuit has'beenrbroken.

What I claim as my invention is: Q

1. In a baling press, the combination with a chamber having an open end, of a platen movable within said chamber; and also automatically movable transversely of said chamber beyond its open end, and a a tatable screw for actuating said platen, said screw being angularly movable upon transverse movement of said platen. V

2. In a baling press, the combinettionwith a chamber having an open end, of a platen movable within said chamber and also movguide able transversely of said chamber beyond said open. end, a rotatable screw forflactuating said platen, said screw being angularly movable during the transverse movement of said platen, and means for compelling said platen to move transversely beyond" said open end, including a roller upon said platen and a guide for engagement with said roller. 3. In a baling press, the combination with a chamber having an open end, of a platen movable longitudinally within, said chamber and also movable transversely of said chamber beyond said open end, means for, guiding said platen during its movement including a roller upon said platen ,and a-guide having portionsv extending longitudinally and transversely of said chamber for, engagement with said roller and a rotatable screw for actuating said platen, said screw extending substantially longitudinally 10f said chamber during the movement of said; platen longitudinally of said chamber and also being angularly movable during the transverse movement of said platen beyond the open end of said chamber.

4. In a baling press, the combination with a chamber having an open end, of a platen movable within said chamber and also movable transversely of said-chamber beyond said open end, a guide for compelling said platen to move transversely beyond said open end, a rotatable screw for actuating said platen, said screw being angularly movable during the transverse movement of said platen, and means for automatically stopping rotation of said screw during the lateral movement of said platen.

5. In a baling press, the combination with a chamber having an open end,of a platen movable within said chamber and also automatically movable transversely of said chamber beyond its open end, a rotatable screw for actuating said platen, said screw being angularly movable during the transverse movement of said platen, means controlled by the pressure exerted by said platen during its compressing movement for automatically stopping rotation of said screw, and means for automatically stopping rotation of said screw during the transverse movement of said platen. V

6. In a baling press, the combination with a chamber having an open end, of a platen movable within said chamber and also mov able transversely of said chamber beyond said open end, a guide having a portion extending transversely of said chamber for engagement with the platen to compel the same to move transversely beyond said open -end, a rotatable screw for actuating said platen, said screw being angularly movable during the transverse movement of said platen, and means positioned upon the transverse portion of said guide for automatically stopping rotation of said screw, said means located inwardly from the end of said transverse portion allowing a slight travel of the platen after the rotation of said screw has been stopped.

7. In a baling press, the combination with a chamber having an open end, of a platen movable longitudinally Within said chamber and also movable transversely of said chamber beyond said open end, means for guiding said platen during its movement including a roller upon said platen and a guide having portions extending longitudinally and transversely of said chamber for engagement with saidroller, a rotatable screwfor actuating said platen, and means positioned on the transverse portion of said guide and actuated by said roller for automatically stopping rotation of said screw.

8. In a baling press, the combination with a chamber having an open end and sectional side walls, of aplaten movable within said chamber and also movable transversely of said chamber beyond said open end, screws rotatably engaging said platen for actuatlng the same, said screws being angnlarly movable during the transverse movement of said platen, and means for holding the side wall sections properly'spaced for the passage of said platen comprising tie members having portions permitting the passage of said screws while moving angularly.

9. In a baling press, the combination with a chamber having an open end and sectional side walls, of a platen movable within said chamber and also movable transversely of said chamber beyond said open end, rotatable screws tor actuating said platen, said screws being angularly movable during the transverse movement of said platen, means for compelling said platen to move transversely beyond said open end including rollers upon said platen and guides for engagement with said rollers, and means for holding the side wall sections properly spaced for thepassage of said platen comprising tie members having portions permitting vertical passage of the rollers and having other portions permitting the angular movement of said screws. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE IV. LANGFORD. 

